The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-27
But They Are Not Able to Accurately Estimate
Parnelrs Power of Resistance, and Hence
Do Not Feel Absolutely Certain.
Bismarck Preparing a Severe Repressiye
Measure for Alsace-LOrraine.
The Annual English University Boat-Race
Z Won by Cambrdge-But Few Believers in
the Maintenance of Peace in Europe.
COERCION FOR IRELAND.

TIE Tories Hope for Speedy Passage of Their
Bill, but Are Not at All Confident
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
LONDON, March 26-The most sanguine Tory
estimate is that the coercion act will be dragged
through Parliament before the Easter recess,
but none speak confidently on the subject. Dur
inc the next few days there will be time Of
storm and conflict perhaps urequaled in parla-
mentary history Enelishmen know from ex
perence what Mr.. Parnell's power of resistance
was when his followers numbered but forty. FIVE,
and every mans hand was against him in the
House Of Commons. The times have changed
but the change is all in Mr.. Par
ne's favor. His followers are now eiehty-five
in number, and he has strong allies
on the opposition benches in the House Of Com
mons solid party thus composed will carry
on the fight with deep conviction Of the right
eousness of :heir cause 1t will be futile to COM
plain of the disorder which will follow, or
lament over the decay of dignity in the House
of Commons-that is the least significant part
of the coming controversy. Its great interest
lies in the fact that it will probably be in the
final conflict between the two rival policies leo
ercon and conciliaton for Ireland. The Irish
members will, of course, contest every
inch of che ground with the Unionists
and Conservatives. Englishmen could hardly
respect them if they did not. Gladstonians and
Radicals will DO likewise They are deeply
pledged to oppose the policy of coercion and
support the policy of Cancellation. 1t is the first
4 time that this battle has been fought with any
thing like even forces. On previous occasions
the English parties have simply We'd with one
another in providing whips and scorpions for the
sister isle. The policy of force may win yet
once more but this time it will win, if at ALL in
the teeth of opposition from the greatest parlia-
mentary debaters of the nneteeth century. 1t
is this fact which will raise the struggle to the
first rank OF Importance
Coercion is at the best but stopgap meas
ure, though often of sufficiently disastrous
kind. Surprising the government succeed in
passing their bill what then? They have before
them report prepared by their own commits
soners. and couched IN the strongest language,
upon the injustice of the present land laws in
Ireland If the May rent-day comes round with
out any alteration of this state Of things, dis
turbapces in Ireland of kind which coercion
bill only a=sravatc will be the inevitable re
sul,. To enforce bad law at the point of the
bayonet is to challenge rebellion. The govern
ment propose to meet the case by introducing
their land bill in the House of Lords and taking
1t into the Commons after passage of the coercion
BILL In this way they imagine they will cas-
the odium of deferring the land bill upon TIT
obstructonsts of coercion. But the govern
ment cannot by any continuance, avoid respon
sibility both for the present and future in Ire
land,